Talmadge Davis threw a complete game, allowing only one hit and striking out 15 batters, to lead Jackson State to a 9-1 win over Alcorn State in the opening game of their Southwestern Athletic Conference series Saturday at Braddy Field.
The sophomore, the reigning SWAC Pitcher of the Week, faced just six batters and recorded at least two strikeouts in six of the nine innings. He has struck out 33 batters in his last three starts, spanning 22.1 innings.
Jackson State collected 10 hits, with four players recording multiple hits. Edwin Lemus Hudson Jr. went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Tyree Reed, who graduated earlier in the day, finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a double. Pierre Cabral was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Diego Melendez went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
Jackson State scored early and often, taking a 2-0 lead in the third inning on RBI singles from Cabral and Melendez. The Tigers added three more runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by Tate’s double and Reed’s scored, pushing their lead to 5-0.
Alcorn State responded in the sixth inning with a run on an error, but Jackson State extended its lead in the bottom half. Hudson singled in a run, and Melendez added another RBI single. Harris walked to bring in a run, and Hudson scored on an error in the eighth to cap the scoring. The game concluded with Davis striking out the side in the ninth.
The series continues with Game 2 scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, followed by a makeup game at 3 p.m. Monday. Jackson State leads the series 1-0.
